[MassHistPres] Historic "abandoned" burial grounds

[Harry LaCortiglia]

In Georgetown, years ago, the Historic Union Cemetery received CPA 
funding for a new fence. Naturally, nothing could begin until the Town 
had written permission from the Cemetery owners. As it turned out, the 
Cemetery was owned by the Trustees of the Union Cemetery Corporation. 
Unbeknownst to everyone though, all of the "Trustees" had been dead for 
decades. Neighbors, volunteers, etc. had been mowing the lawn and 
managing upkeep. To make a long story short, with no one able to give 
permission to the town to install the fence on the cemetery land, the 
Corporation had to be revived at the Secretary of States Office. (The 
hardest part was finding an adequate number of volunteers to become the 
new Trustees.)

Once revived, the corporation met and legally voted to transfer the 
ownership of Cemetery to the Town. Ultimately, the Board of Selectmen 
appointed the Historic Commission oversight. Subsequently other CPA 
projects were approved. More fencing; gravestone restoration; 
preservation plan, etc.


https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://cms5.revize.com/revize/georgetownma/Document%2520Center/Government/Boards%2520%26%2520Commissions/Historical%2520Commission/un_cem_preservation_plan.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjk-M_gyNeNAxVWrokEHRTyGu8QFnoECEcQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3JFd-r-OYLdYXjQv2eYGhY
<https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://cms5.revize.com/revize/georgetownma/Document%2520Center/Government/Boards%2520%26%2520Commissions/Historical%2520Commission/un_cem_preservation_plan.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjk-M_gyNeNAxVWrokEHRTyGu8QFnoECEcQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3JFd-r-OYLdYXjQv2eYGhY>

H. LaCortiglia

Georgetown


On 6/3/2025 1:43 PM, Mike Potaski via MassHistPres wrote:
> In Uxbridge we have a Historic Cemetery Committee appointed by the 
> Selectboard (I believe there may be either an MGL or CMR that enables 
> the action) that oversees and tends the "abandoned" graveyards (there 
> are 30 something of them). Several are on deeded lots while most 
> others are on private property unconnected to the original owners. The 
> Committee has a positive and cooperative relationship with those 
> property owners.
>
> Michael Potaski
> Uxbridge Historic Commission
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> on behalf of 
> Betty Slade via MassHistPres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
> *Sent:* Sunday, June 1, 2025 9:46 AM
> *To:* masshistpres at cs.umb.edu <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
> *Subject:* [MassHistPres] Historic "abandoned" burial grounds
> Which town entity has responsibility to protect historic but 
> "abandoned" burial grounds?
> If a historic cemetery is on a lot that has no ownership, does the 
> town have responsibility or authority to protect it from vandalism?
> Can the Local Historical Commission take responsibility?
> Betty Slade
> Westport
> CPC
>
> Sent from AOL Desktop 
> <https://discover.aol.com/products-and-services/aol-desktop-for-windows>
>
> _______________________________________________
> MassHistPres mailing list
> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
> https://mailman.cs.umb.edu/listinfo/masshistpres
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/pipermail/masshistpres/attachments/20250604/c118b9f3/attachment-0001.html>